Bethune-Cookman Takes Top Spot in Top Ten Poll; Winston-Salem State and Tuskegee Continue to Lead Division II Poll

By ADD SEYMOUR JR. 

Bethune-Cookman's big win over the MEAC's second-best team, South Carolina State, along with Tennessee State's second loss of the sesaon, has propelled the Wildcats to the top spot of this week's Add's HBCU Sports Report HBCU Football Top Ten Poll for Division I-FCS teams.

Led by a stifling defense, Bethune-Cookman shut down fourth-ranked South Carolina State 14-3 in a battle for the conference lead.  Second-ranked Tennessee State fell from the top spot after Eastern Illinois, the nation's second ranked FCS school with the nation's top offense, got an easy 34-15 win in Nashville Saturday.  TSU's two losses this season, the other to Bethune-Cookman, came as star quarterback Michael German didnt play. 

 

The other big story in the D-1-FCS poll is the Hampton, one of the hottest team in the nation. After starting the season with five losses, the Pirates enter the top ten after three straight wins and a 3-1 record that has them solidly in third place in the MEAC.

 

In the Division II Top Ten poll, Winston-Salem State and Tuskegee continue to lead.  Winston-Salem got an easy win over Livingstone while Tuskegee had no trouble with Kentucky State. 

 

Shaw, now 5-3 overall after defeating ninth-ranked Johnson C. Smith Saturday, moved into the sixth spot.  Benedict, with its late win over Morehouse Saturday, is now ranked eighth. 

Here are the entire Add's HBCU Sports Report Top Ten Football Polls:

Division I- Football Championship Series

1) Bethune-Cookman

2) Tennessee State

3) Jackson State

4) South Carolina State

5) Alabama State

6) Alcorn State

7) Prairie View

8) Southern

9) North Carolina A&T

10) Hampton

     Division II

1) Winston-Salem State

2) Tuskegee

3) Virginia State

4) Fayetteville State
      5) Stillman

6) Shaw

7) Miles

8) Benedict

9) Johnson C. Smith

10)St. Augustine's